Preview: I want to live in Moonlight Peaks
A cosy farming sim, but you’re a vampire? Stop right there, I don’t need to hear anything else, sign me right up. That’s the very basic premise of Moonlight Peaks, a chilled farming/life sim in the vein of Stardew Valley, Coral Island and Story of Seasons – but with a spooky twist.
You see, Moonlight Peaks isn’t your normal locale. It’s a region where vampires, werewolves, witches and other supernatural beings live side-by-side. But rather than being a terrifying hell-fest of a town, it’s actually a very cosy, serene place to live. Who knew that werewolves could be more peaceful and pleasant than humans to live alongside?
I’ve only scratched the surface of what Moonlight Peaks has to offer, but I can’t wait to play more of this gorgeous sim when it launches this July on PC and Switch. After being fed up of your parents’ old-fashioned views, you decide to leave home and set out on your own – your port of call being your parents’ old house in Moonlight Peaks. It’s the same old story, really: you arrive to an overgrown, run-down plot of land and, over time, you’ll cultivate into something beautiful.
But it’s of course slow-going, and there’s much more to Moonlight Peaks than just growing crops. Like Stardew Valley et al, you can explore the town, discover secrets and get to know the townsfolk. Relationships can be forged over time – both friendships and romantic – and your newfound friends will have various tasks for you to complete. There’s also plenty to see and do in town, from visiting taverns and cafes to wandering out into the woods and uncovering new mysteries.
You can completely make your mark on Moonlight Peaks, too, by crafting decorations, furniture and a whole lot more to furnish your farm exactly how you’d like. You don’t have to, of course. Keep things minimal if aesthetics don’t matter to you. But if you do want to make your home look as pretty as possible, you’ll have to gather resources and get busy at your crafting desk.
It’s clear that Moonlight Peaks is the type of game that you can take exactly at your own pace. There’s so much more to discover, too, like unlockable vampiric abilities, an expandable home, an intriguing town history to uncover and lots of crafts to enjoy, from flower arranging to cross-stitch and a whole lot more. It’s not quite the vampire life sim that Bram Stoker or Anne Rice envisioned, but it is adorable, and I can’t wait to play more.
Moonlight Peaks is set to launch on 7th July on PC, Switch and Switch 2.
